Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-02-10

but afterward went to sleep II u warm
shawl as contented as possible; and
when they were dried and combed the
girls could hardly believe they were the
same animals. ''They are perfect
beauties - said Daisy, '.real Maltese
and white, with such bright eyes and
cunning pink noses, They are better
than st. Valentines Eve think"
THAT is because You have not an arts
tic soul,'' returned Myrtle, but she
nevertheless danced for joy, and hunted
up some pink and blue ribbons with
which TO adorn the soft little balls of
fur, and then invited the other girls in
to see her .'Cupids," as she called
them, when such peals of laughter is
sued from the room that Madam Vernon
knocked ut the door to inquire the cause
of what appeared to her such ''unseem-
ly mirth.'
sHilda, Hilda, sweetheart see what
the pOstman has left for theer' cried
Fraulein Won Hillern, hurrying into
the room where the sick girl lay list
lessly lingering the first snOw-drop that
had appeared in h. window garden.
1T must be a valentine for my sweet
oner' "A valentine! who would send
me a valentine!'' said Hilda bitterly,
but her fingers trembled eagerly as she
united the box, and drew out Bertha's
"hearts and darts and true lovers
knots" ''How pretty! it must be one
of the dear girls who sent itr' while
the good Fraulein turned aside to wipe
her eyes and murmur: Its the first
smile have seen on her white face for
many long week."
A tap at the door was followed by
ing: "a messenger boy left this for
Miss Hilda," and bearing Daisy's roses,
which filled the room with perfume.
"How heavenly, heavenly SWEET cried
the sick girl, an unusual color coming
into her cheeks, and burying her face
in the flowers. "Will wonders never
ceaser' gasped Fraulein, who was more
excited than her niece, and she really
thought so. when, as she left the house
on her way to school,, she met another
messenger with basket of fruit, cool
and delicious; the very thing for a fe-
verish invalid. 1T seems as if 1 had
too much for one day." said Hilda, as
her aunt kissed her goodbye for
the third time; ''but 1 am happy, so
very happy, for 1 see am not forgot
ten. as feared" You begin to look
like mine old Hilda again. said Frau
lein joyfully, as she fastened of.
So St. Valentine brought joy to the
ugly room with the green curtains and
hill To
forget the distasteful hangings, as she
lay surrounded by her dainty SOU
venirs. But the climax was reached
when on the Fraulein's return from
Madam Vernon's, she found hung on
the knob of the door, Il rustic cage, in
which were curled up the gray and
white kittens. labeled: Two little
loves from st. Valentines Land"
Hilda fairly screamed with delight
when the bright eyes and pink noses
popped over the edge or the basket, and
received her pets with open arms, who
proceeded at once to make themselves
as fascinating as possible, by boxing
each others ears and chasing their own
tails, in the most engaging manner.
whoever could have thought of such
n lovely, funny valentipe?'' cried
Hilda. rs she sank bach weak with
laughter. Il shall never be blue or
lonely now with these tricksy elves to
amuse me-" While the happy aunt,
remembering what the doctor had said,
sobbed, "Gott in Himmel be thanked
that the little diversion has come at
last"
And so it proved, for the pranks and
antics of those kittens would have pro-
voked n smile from the sternest anchor
lite; and from that 18th of February the
girl began to improve. at is an i'm
position" stOrmed the Herr Doctor. in
mock rage, "those little cats do more
goot than all my pills, and potions. 1
will wiring their impudent necks." But
the fiaXen-haired German lassie only
laughed in his face, Rugged her furry
treasures tighter, and grew stronger
and roster every day. The secret as to
the real donors of the valentines soon
leaked out. and it came to be quite the
fashion with Madam Vernon's boarders
TO spend an afternoon every week with
Hilda Won Hillern. and watch the
capers of the ..Cupids' who learned a
variety of tricks, and became very ac-
cOmplished pussy-cats. And when the
May blossoms were in bloom, HiIda
came back 10 school and was warmly
welcomed by her class.
Il can never thank You good young
ladies enough" sObbed Fraulein to the
four friends for without your valen-
tines, the Herr Doctor says, my sweet
heart would surely be white angel
now. They rouse her and take her out
of herself, especially the small kit-cats.
There is French proverb," said
Madam Vernon, who stood by, (which